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The Privilege Against Self-Incrimination Under the Fifth Amendment to the United States constitution, an individual may not be compelled to be a witness against themselves in a criminal proceeding. California has a corresponding provision to its ...

Do you know what double jeopardy is? It wouldn’t be a complete surprise if most people said double jeopardy was the second round of questions in the famous trivia game show hosted by Alex Trebek. While they wouldn’t be incorrect, the ...

Q: What Is an “Emancipated Minor?” An emancipated minor is an individual under the age of 18 who a court deemed to be capable of enjoying similar rights and privileges as adults. As a result, the civil disabilities that restrict ...

Most people understand that criminal charges and proceedings are serious matters. Not only does a successful conviction impose criminal steep criminal fines and harsh penalties, including jail time or imprisonment, but there are other lasting effects ...

Most people understand that spouses must divide their assets upon getting a divorce, including real estate, cars, money, and investment accounts. The process of distributing those assets is relatively straight forward because most marriages commonly ...

Property division is an issue in divorce cases that the parties and courts end up spending much time litigating. For many people in California, property division isn’t a significant issue because the average married couple doesn’t acquire ...

Many divorces end with the parties agreeing to terms in a private settlement, without the court’s ruling on certain important legal issues. The more amenable the parties are to compromise, the easier it is for them to reach a settlement, ...

Spousal support payments are designed to ensure a party has enough money to cover their living expenses after divorce. An award for spousal support is usually necessary where one spouse was unemployed during the length of their marriage. In long term ...

California’s underfunded and overwhelmed public courts have been a major issue for the state’s ability to administer justice, particularly for family law matters. According to the Judicial Council of California’s 2018 Court ...

According to the ancient tale about the Judgment of King Solomon, the wise Israeli king was tasked with resolving a dispute between two women claiming to be the mother of an infant child. The king proposed a grim solution: to cut the baby in half ...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that intoxicated drivers are responsible for roughly one-third of all traffic fatalities in the United States. In 2014, the CDC published a sobering report regarding the rising number of ...

In California, it’s illegal for any person to intentionally expose their genitals in public. Per California Penal Code 314 PC, an individual can be arrested and charged for indecent exposure under the following circumstances: they intentionally ...

A child support order is a civil judgement that dictates when and how often a parent is required to pay child support. California has very strict laws when it comes to issuing and enforcing child support orders. In fact, the court won’t even ...

Logic dictates that if you didn’t commit a crime then you shouldn’t be arrested for it. However, in the eyes of the law, public safety trumps all else. You can be arrested for an inchoate crime, or an “incomplete crime,” just ...

Since 2017, the Trump Administration has been responsible for implementing many bold and controversial legislative changes. For all its benefits, the First Step Act is no exception. On December 21, 2018, President Trump enthusiastically signed a bill ...

Domestic violence is a national epidemic that harms countless American citizens each year. Like all states, California issues protective and restraining orders to protect individuals and families from physical, sexual, and psychological violence or ...

Raising a child can be challenging and costly. When a divorce occurs, it doesn’t make parenting any easier. Although noncustodial parents don’t have primary custody of their children, they are responsible for paying child support to cover ...

If you have been arrested for drug possession in California, this misdemeanor crime can result in a county jail sentence of up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000, and a permanent criminal record which can cause substantial damage to your personal ...

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have become an essential part of our daily lives. From sharing pictures and photos of your adventures to staying updated with current events, our world has never been more connected than ...

While some parents are able to successfully co-parent their children after divorce, others aren’t. There are many cases in which the custodial parent withholds visitation—without a valid reason—from the noncustodial parent. ...

When you drive up to a DUI checkpoint, you are required to stop your vehicle, but are you fully aware of what your rights are when interacting with law enforcement? Despite the fact that DUI checkpoints are an exception to the rule that officers are ...

If you own a business and are in the process of getting a divorce, you might be worried about its wellbeing and what will become of it after its visit to the chopping block. Even if you started the business before you and your spouse got married, ...

Once Proposition 64 officially became state law in California, many proponents of marijuana rejoiced. Previously classified as an illegal substance, you can now find adult-use recreational dispensaries everywhere, in addition to the medicinal-only ...

Parental alienation syndrome (PAS) is one of the most heartbreaking effects divorce can have on a child. Typically occurring when one parent actively prevents their child from seeing their ex-spouse, PAS can cause serious rifts in the family dynamic, ...

The following is an overview of frequently asked questions regarding legal guardianship in California. Question: What is a Legal Guardian? Answer: A legal guardian is an individual who are assigned to be the primary caretaker to a minor child or ...